gear ratio's

[dPmunky]

i dont know if this is possible or not, but i was racing the other night and just started thinking about gearing...my 0-60 time is around 7.5-8 sec. is a gear ratio change possible for mx-3's? <p>i mean is it worth it...because if you ever watch while shifting around 3 thousand rpm in 5th gear, youre at 55mph and i thought maybe if the gears were slightly larger acceleration and top speed would increase? anyone have a clue?<p>i figure a better gear ratio, air filter, and muffler and you'd drop down to around 5-6 sec. 0-60 time? (thats just me thinking...VERY optimisticaly)

[JasonH]

Lower gears increase acceleration, higher gears increase top speed.<p>Just get lower tires and/or smaller wheels. It will have the same effect as a lower gear ratio.<p>It will also throw your speedo off.

[papa roached]

i also hear the protege trannys are geared better than the stock mx tranny

[Hy300]

The Gearing of the G25 tranny for the V6 sucks, it is an inevitable fact. Even for everyday driving it kinda sucks, but not as much, that is why the car and gearing are intended for everyday use and not tearing around corners or down a straight lane.<p>That doesn't mean the MX-3 can't accomplish those things though.

[mx3TT]

I would like to get some taller gears with myBPT setup. When I drive it im shifting like crazy to keep up with the turbo. But o well, I guess thats one thing you have to give up with turbo.

[dPmunky]

i guess i should be happy w/what i got...but it just sucks gettin' beat off of the line, everything i have in the car is stock and usually i fair pretty well...but i think w/a little bit of a change it be quicker<p>youre right though, the gearing is made for fuel economy not speed.

[Tyler17rose]

Its not even that great for fuel economy. Highways are killer , constant driving at 4 grand doesnt help the gas milage at all.

[Spydie]

agreed
everytime I'm on the highway I keep feeling i need to shift into 6th gear....which sadly doesn't exist.

[TsiMiata]

I was just researching gear ratios this morning. There was a 4.1 final drive ratio available in some j-spec cars, US was 4.33. That would gear the car down some.<p>The other tid bit of info I was able to discover is that the gear ratios are identical between 1.8 liter V-6's and 2.5's. I had read numerous places on this board that the gear ratios were different for the 1.8. This seems not to be the case. Allthe differenes seen in RPM in the probe 2.5 VS the MX-3 has to do with tire size. The MX-3 tire is 1" smaller in diameter.

[ltjrunner]

yes our gearing sux in both the 4cyl and 6 cyl. its obvious that second is way too long and doesnt give you a good carry into third. but be ready to spend some money if you want these changed unless you just go with a diff tranny ie the protoget one like mention previously.<p>tsimiata-ur tsi honestly handles like jello? drove a first gen tonight, stock, and was liking the handleing, a lot better than th e mx-3 by far. just curious cuz i just read that and was like uhhh. oh and good luck with ur mx-3.

[TsiMiata]

The talon handling sucks- but its on original shocks and springs. From the little I've driven the MX-3 it's handling is much better. Even with suspension mods I'm sure the MX-3 would out handle the Talon. It weighs at least 700lbs less. Both cars can fit the same size rubber under them- 225 width. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the car that weighs less is going to being loading the tires less for the same G loads in a corner.

[TsiMiata]

Back to the original post- theres no way your getting the MX-3 down to a 5-6 second 0-60 time with the mods you listed. You might drop 1/2-3/4 second at best. The only way to get that low is with a boost in power(turbo, klze) or a severe drop in weight.